Bush Calls On U.S To ‘Recall And Recover’ Its Identity

Former President George W. Bush in a Thursday speech called on Americans to “recall and recover” their country’s identity, slamming the 21st century rise of isolationism, nativism and anti-globalization sentiments.

Bush spoke at forum in New York City for the George W. Bush Institute and delivered an indictment of domestic policies that reject immigrants and free trade and foreign policies that do not confront security threats head-on.

“We’ve seen nationalism distorted into nativism, forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America. We see a fading confidence in the value of free markets and international trade, forgetting that conflict, instability and poverty follow in the wake of protectionism,” Bush said. Read more atThe Hill.

George W. Bush was always a mentsch (yes, even when he was a young, irresponsible person with a drinking issue). It’s too bad that the core decency he possesses is so rare in today’s caustic, base political climate.